Foundation for New York’s Strongest Announces COVID-19 Emergency Fund

The Foundation for New York’s Strongest, the official nonprofit of the City of New York Department of Sanitation (DSNY), has launched a fund to provide additional vital resources to protect its workers and support the families of its fallen workers. The foundation has committed an initial $10,000 to the fund.

The men and women of DSNY are on the frontlines every day keeping the city clean during this pandemic. DSNY and the foundation are doing everything they can to keep these workers safe, and this fund will help them take their efforts a step further.

"Sanitation employees are on the frontlines fighting through this crisis every day to keep the city running, although they don’t always get recognized as 'first responders' or 'essential workers,'" said Julie Raskin, executive director of the Foundation for New York's Strongest, in a statement. "Through this fund, the foundation is aiming to provide DSNY employees with additional resources they need to get through this pandemic, which could include protective masks, a hotel room to distance themselves from vulnerable family members or a small contribution to a fallen worker’s family."

After transforming their operations to produce sanitizer for essential workers, local distillers Greenhook Gin and New York Distilling have contributed nearly 30 gallons of their hand sanitizer to a Brooklyn sanitation garage. Additionally, City Vineyard and the Taste of Tribeca have donated meals to sanitation workers at the Manhattan District 1 garage as part of a program that supports local restaurants while also giving back to the frontline workforce.

"We, as an agency, have been working around the clock to adjust to this new reality while focusing on keeping our core operations running as efficiently as possible," said Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia in a statement. "During these trying times, the agency is especially appreciative of the foundation and the work that it does. We are hoping the fund can provide an extra layer of protection for the men and women of this department and assist families of those most affected."

The foundation is accepting both monetary donations and in-kind donations such as hand sanitizer and meals. To make a donation, click here.